398 



SOLANACE. 



Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous ; limb 5-cleft, rarely 4-cleft, 

 regular, or a little unequal, deciduous, with the aestivation pli- 

 cate in the legitimate genera ; but imbricate in the spurious 

 ones. Stamens epipetalous, equal in number to the segments of 

 the corolla, and alternating with them, one of which is some- 

 times abortive. Ovarium 1-2-3-4-celled, many-seeded. Style 

 one ; stigma obtuse, rarely lobed. Fruit or pericarp 2-4-celled ; 

 a capsule with a parallel or duplicate dissepiment ; or a berry 

 having the placentas adnate to the dissepiment. Seeds nume- 

 rous, sessile. Albumen fleshy. Embryo inclosed, more or less 

 arched, usually excentrical, with the radicle tending to the um- 

 bilicus. Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided or 

 lobed : floral ones placed nigh together, often twin. Inflo- 

 rescence variable, usually extra-axillary ; pedicels bractless. 



This order is distinguished from Scrophuldrince, particularly in 

 the arched or spiral embryo ; in the plicate aestivation of the 

 corolla, and in the flowers being generally regular, and the 

 stamens equal. Perhaps those genera, having the aestivation of 

 the corolla not plicate, and the embryo straight, should be ex- 

 cluded, or combined into a separate order with those having the 

 aestivation of the corolla imbricate, the embryo arched, and the 

 stamens didynamous. 



The Deadly Nightshade represents this order, which partici- 

 pates very generally in its qualities, although they are very fre- 

 quently hidden beneath a fairer form, and often much mitigated. 

 Many of the Solanums are very handsome. The root of S. 

 tuberosum is the common potatoe. The Ferbdscums, Daturas, 

 Solandras, and Brunfelsias, &c. are all plants of great beauty, 

 although the former, on account of their frequency, are des- 

 pised in gardens. Capsicums are famous for their pungent 

 fruits and seeds ; the Cayenne pepper being the pulverized 

 fruit of several species ; Brunfelsias for their fragrance and 

 beauty ; and Nicotianas or Tobacco for their fetor. The leaves 

 of the whole order have a disagreeable smell. The usual effect 

 of solanaceous plants is narcotic ; but it is thought that this has 

 been exaggerated on account of the intense and deleterious pro- 

 perties of A'tropa Belladonna. These, according to the observa- 

 tions of Vauquelin, depend upon the presence of a bitter, nau- 

 seous matter, which is soluble in spirits of wine, forming with 

 tannin an insoluble compound ; and giving out ammonia when 

 decomposed by fire. Notwithstanding the narcotic power of the 

 roots of Mandrake, the Belladonna, and others, those of the 

 potatoe are found to contain an abundant fecula, which is among 

 the most valuable food for man. The leaves of many Solana- 

 ceous plants are exciting and narcotic, but in very unequal de- 

 gree, as in Tobacco, Physalis, Henbane, &c. ; those of the 

 Nightshade excite vertigo, convulsions, and vomiting. The 

 juice of Stramonium is given in North America in doses of from 

 20 to 30 grains, in cases of epilepsy. The fruit of Physalis 

 Alkekengi is a veterinary diuretic ; those of P. edulis, pubescens, 

 and others, are used in tarts ; that of Lycopersicum vulgare, and 

 that of the Solanum Melongena, are served at tables in various 

 forms, under the name of Tomatoes and Aubergines. 



Synopsis of the genera. 

 TRIBE I. 



SOLA'NE*. Limb of corolla plicate in aestivation. Stamens 

 equal in number to the segments of the corolla. Anthers dehis- 

 cing lengthwise, except in the genus Solanum. Embryo much 

 curved. Fruit baccate. Placentas usually adnate to the disse- 

 piment. 



1 SOLA'NUM. Calyx 5-cleft, rarely 4-cleft. Corolla rotate, 

 rarely campanulate, usually 5-cleft. Anthers connivent, de- 

 hiscing by pores at apex. Berry 2, rarely 4-celled. 



2 LYCOPE'RSICUM. Calyx 5-6-parted. Corolla rotate, 5- 

 6-cleft. Anthers conniving, membranous at top, dehiscing 

 lengthwise. Berry 2-3-celled. Seeds villous. 



3 PELTANTHE'RA. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate. An- 

 thers hamately-sagittate, dehiscing lengthwise, furnished each 

 with a peltate, sessile appendage on the back. 



4 CA'PSICUM. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla rotate. Anthers 

 conniving, dehiscing lengthwise. Berry 2, rarely 3-celled, 

 chartaceous, hollow, naked. 



5 PHYSA'LIS. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla campanulately ro- 

 tate. Anthers connivent, dehiscing lengthwise. Berry 2-celled, 

 hidden by the inflated calyx. 



6 SARA'CHA. Calyx 5-cleft. Corolla campanulately rotate, 

 reflexed. Stamens bearded. Anthers separate, dehiscing length- 

 wise. Berry 2-celled, covered by the calyx to the middle. 



7 WITHERI'NGIA. Calyx 4-5-cleft. Corolla rotate, 4-5- 

 cleft. Anthers connivent, dehiscing lengthwise. Berry 2- 

 celled, propped by the calyx. 



8 NETOU'XIA. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla salver-shaped ; 

 throat furnished with an entire, tubular, short corona. Anthers 

 dehiscing lengthwise. 



9 MANDRA'GORA. Calyx turbinate, 5-cleft. Corolla campa- 

 nulate. Stamens dilated at the base, and connivent. Ovarium 

 biglandular at the base. Berry solid, 1 -celled. 



10 A'TROPA. Calyx loose, 5-cleft. Corolla campanulate, 

 ventricose. Stamens usually exserted. Stigma depress'ed. 

 Berry 2-celled ; placentas free. 



1 1 ANISODUS. Calyx campanulate, unequally 5-lobed. Co- 

 rolla campanulate. Stamens straight. Berry 2-celled, in- 

 closed in the inflated calyx, operculate. 



12 NICA'NDRA. Calyx 5-parted, inflated ; segments sagit- 

 tate. Corolla campanulate. Stamens incurved. Berry fleshy, 

 dry, 3-5-celled, covered by the calyx. 



13 LY'CIUM. Calyx 5-toothed, or 3-5-lobed. Corolla fun- 

 nel-shaped or tubular. Stamens usually exserted. Stigma de- 

 pressed. Berry 2-celled. 



14 ACNISTUS. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped ; 

 limb imbricate in aestivation, reflexed. Stamens exserted. 

 Stigma funnel-shaped. Berry 2-celled. 



15 JABAROSA. Calyx 5-cleft. Corolla campanulate or 

 tubular ; limb induplicate in aestivation. Stamens short, in- 

 serted towards the top of the tube. Berry 2-3-celled. 



